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Dalziel makes six changes for tournament finale

Head Coach John Dalziel has made six changes to his starting side to meet Wales in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship 7th place play-off tomorrow at Manchester City Academy Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm) – live stream available on worldrugby.org.

The changes are split equally between the forwards and backs, with three personnel changes being made to each division.

In the front-row George Thornton and Callum Sheldon replace Murray McCallum and Zander Fagerson. In the back-row Alex Craig is set to make his first start for Scotland under-20 as he packs down on the blinside flank in place of the injured Jamie Ritchie.

Charlie Shiel and Ruairi Howarth are both set to make their first start in this year’s tournament as they replace Hugh Fraser and Blair Kinghorn at scrum-half and full-back respectively, while wing Cameron Gray gains promotion from the bench to start on the left-wing.

Dalziel said: “This is huge match for us as seventh place, a highest ever finish for Scotland under-20, is up for grabs.

“We know what Wales bring to the table, especially in terms of their physicality, but we have a tight-group who will front-up to the challenge ahead.

“We’re giving players who have been making an impact off the bench a chance to start and hopefully they’ll grasp the opportunity with both hands. These players have grown throughout the tournament, so we’re hoping they can build on that experience and take it into tomorrow’s clash.

“With this group we talk about filling the shirt, and big games like tomorrow is where we need boys to step up and show their pride in wearing the jersey.”

Hooker Lewis Anderson makes his second consecutive start joining Thornton and Sheldon in the front-row.

The lock combination of Callum Hunter-Hill and Scott Cummings remains, with the latter skippering the side in the play-off clash, while Lewis Wynne and Ally Miller pack-down alongside Craig in the back-row.

Robbie Nairn retains his spot on the right-wing with Gray on the left-flank and Howarth at full-back.

Centre Lewis Berg is included among the replacements and will make his Scotland under-20 debut if called upon from the bench. Prop Adam Nicol is also selected in the matchday 23 after being named as Jake Kerr’s squad replacement earlier this week.